Fronteras

TUCSON - ACLU affiliates in Arizona and San Diego filed a lawsuit Thursday against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for failure to produce records of abuse of migrant children in the care of its agencies. 

The lawsuit alleges DHS has ignored a multitude of complaints regarding abuse of children in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its sub-agency, Border Patrol. The ACLU claims that DHS oversight has failed to investigate reports of abuse over the years which include severe overcrowding in facilities, denial of medical care, food and water.

In a statement, CBP referred to its handling of the influx of child migrants to the U.S. border from Central America last summer.

"In response to the unprecedented humanitarian situation last summer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel around the country responded in a professional and compassionate manner. Border Patrol Agents provided safety, shelter and care for immigrants in custody from the initial encounter up until they were processed and out of the agency's custody.

CBP used all available resources to process these children as quickly as possible and transfer them to the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services as required by law (Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 P.L. 110-457 Section 235)."

The ACLU has also filed state records requests in Texas and Arizona asserting that shelter workers with Health and Human Services did not consistently report charges of abuse by Border Patrol with child protection agencies.